Top trips for 2018

Travel is all about taking yourself out of your comfort zone, right?

Being open to learning about local cultures, curious to try new regional delicacies, fearless enough to trek through the jungle on foot and challenged by getting yourself as far from the beaten track as possible.

Our selection of top trips for travel in 2018 will open your eyes to the amazing destinations that are still out there waiting to be discovered. Adventures that will take you behind the scenes and into the thick of a place. From traversing mountains and cooking with locals, to swimming alongside incredible ocean life and exploring otherworldly landscapes.

Explore the depths of the African wilderness on foot and be ready to come face-to-face with the big five. Tackle remote northern Kruger and visit the likes of the Limpopo River Valley and Crooks Corner.

Dive into the blue to swim with manta rays and be awestruck by their size and grace. Hike Mauna Kea, one of five volcanos that form these tropical islands, and check out Kilauea, which is remains active.

Be Open

Gain an understanding of the diverse spirituality that envelops India. From getting a lesson in Sikhism at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, to feeling enlightened in Dharmsala, the home of the Dalai Lama.

Taste the real China on a foodie exploration from Chengdu to Shanghai. Finesse your culinary skills at a dumpling making class, eat Peking duck in the city it originated and dare to try spicy Sichuan pepper.

Get to know Iran beyond what you see in the media. Immerse yourself in rural life with the Qashqai people, visit the macabre Zoroastrian Towers of Silence and stay in a classic 16th century Caravanserai.

Be Challenged

Head off on the most famous trek in the world as you walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Before facing the dizzying altitude of Lake Titicaca and plunging yourself in the fascinating history of La Paz.

Scale the Andes on an expedition in the depths of Patagonia. Sleep under the stars in the Rio Blanco Valley, trek through a wealth of unspoiled landscapes and bathe in thermal pools deep in the forest.

Face complete remoteness in Central Asia, cross hair-raising Afghan-built footbridges, soar along the iconic Pamir Highway and get a grasp on local life thanks to Tajikistan’s amazing homestay network.

Drive across frozen plains past towering peaks and walk through the deserted tundra to glacial rivers. Ask questions about Alaska’s history in the town of Valdez, surrounded by a landscape like no other.

Savour Jewish dishes in the Negev Desert, pick up some age-old kitchen secrets from Druze villagers, dig into classic plates at legendary local eateries in Jerusalem and float around in the salty Dead Sea.